Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.16.39
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyWorship the Lord With Attentive Offerings
“In the beginning, the devotee should chant the dvādaśākṣara-mantra and offer flower garlands, incense and so on. After worshiping the Lord in this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk and dress Him with proper garments, a sacred thread, and ornaments. After offering water to wash the Lord’s feet, one should again worship the Lord with fragrant flowers, incense and other paraphernalia.”
What the purport teaches
- Worship begins with the dvādaśākṣara-mantra: oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. The devotee offers flower garlands, incense and other items.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs the worshiper to ring a bell with the left hand while offering the items of Deity worship.
- The Lord should be bathed with milk and dressed with proper garments, a sacred thread and ornaments. After offering water for His feet, one worships Him again with fragrant flowers, incense and other paraphernalia.
Try this today
Chant oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya slowly and attentively today.
Ask yourself
How can careful attention to each offering help me worship the Lord more thoughtfully?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.